School-desk



(No Model.

0. B. TOWLE. SCHOOL DESK.

No. 403,795. Patented May 21 1889.

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. TOWVLE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SCHOOL-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,795, dated May 21, 1889.

Application filed July 27, 1888. Serial No. 281,233. (No model.)

in the constructions and combinations of devices which I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my desk. Fig. 2 is a view showing the arm-rest up under the desk and out of use. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the foot-rest. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of strip F and stop E.

The object of my invention is to provide a school-desk in which the several adjustments can be accomplished in the simplest and readiest manner, and yet keep the desk free from complications and within the bounds of economy.

A is the desk having the sides a and the legs a.

B isthe seat, underthe ends of which are the supporting-irons b, the projecting rear ends of which are pivoted to the brackets or clevises C, which embrace the sides dot the desk. Upon the outer surface of the sides are made the approximately vertical or longitudinal grooves D, from which extend the short cross-grooves d. Upon the inner surface of the brackets or clevises C are formed studs or pins c,which are adapted to fit within the grooves. Now, by pushing the clevises back until their pins or studs come into the longitudinal grooves, they can then be moved up or down to diiferent heights, so that the seat can thus be adjusted. \Vhen at the proper height, the clevises are pushed forward so that their pins enter the cross-grooves, and they are thus supported at the height desired. The clevises are locked in this position by means of the stops E, which pass down in the forward ends of the clevises, said stops having grooves e in their sides, which fit pins 0 inside the clevises, and thus hold the clevises from being pushed back, so that they remain with their pins within the cross-grooves d. The stops E also serve as stops or looks for the seat by coming in contact with the rear edges of its supporting-irons, and thus preventing said seat from moving on its pivotal centers any lower than is desired. The stops E are on the lower edge of the independent movable strip or piece F, which rests with its back against the back of the desk, its lower end coming down well to the back edge of the seat. Being an independent movable strip, it follows the vertical movement of the seat, and thus in all positions keeps the space between the back and seat closed properly and shapes the seat in any position.

I is the foot-rest. It consists of a board or strip the ends of which are secured to the grooved outer ends of the end arms, J. These arms are formed or provided on their outer surfaces With pins K K, the middle one, K, being the pivot-pin and slightly longer than the end ones, K, which are the locking-pins.

The legs a of the desk are formed with a center portion, M, in which are notches in approximately vertical series or sets. In each set the long downwardly-turned notches a extending from the front edge of the center portion, are to receive the pivot-pins K. The lower notch, or, on the front, and the upper notch, a on the back of the center portion, are to receive the end pins, K when the footrest is in use, said end pins acting as locks, being limited in the notches and holding the foot-rest in place. The upper notch, a, on the front and the lower notch, M, on the back of the center portion, are to receive the end pins, K, when the foot-rest is turned up out of the way, moving on its pins K as centers, and said notches a and a hold the foot-rest in an elevated position out of the way when not in use. To arrange the position of the foot-rest, the pivot-pins K of the arms J are released and inserted in the notches a of the series or setabove, or any other set of notches, and the locking-pins find rest in the other notches of said series or set. The foot-rest can by these means be readily changed up or down and turned to a position for use, or

turned up out of use. The Whole arrangement is of a simple character, and does not involve the use of separate parts which are likely to be lost.

I have found that the provision of a suitable arm-rest for a school-desk is of prime importance. It will enable the scholar to sit erect and have more room and a perfect support and play for his arm. The presence of an arm-rest is, however, only desirable Where by reason of the vertical adjustment of the seat and foot'rest the scholar may be brought into the proper position for its use. As this arm-rest has to be attached to the main body of the desk, and be flush with its top, it will readily be seen that no vertical adjustment of the rest itself is possible; but when the seat and the foot-rest are adjustable any scholar may be brought up to a position to use the arm-rest. I therefore deem it an essential improvement in the school-desk, and have invented the following construction, which is simple, eifective, and firmly secures the arm-restto the desk. To the front edge of the desk-top, near its right-handcorner, is hinged the arm-rest M, the hinges m of which allow the rest to be turned back and up under the desk. 7

N are rabbeted cleats under the desk-top,

and in these slides the supporting-piece O,

which is adapted to be moved forward under and to hold the arm-rest up when in use. To turn the arm-rest back when the use ceases, the piece 0 is pushed back to its limit, and the arm-rest is then turned back under the desk, where it is engaged and held up by a short arm, 0, on the front of piece 0, said piece being pulled forward slightly to effect the engagement of its arm with the arm-rest.

I am aware that in school-desks arrangements have been made for raising and lowering the seat and for adjusting the foot-rest, and I do not, therefore, claim such, broadly; but i What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a school-desk, the sides thereof formed with longitudinal grooves and short intersecting grooves, arranged at right angles therewith, the seat, the clevises 0r brackets secured to said seat and embracing the sides and having pins or studs projecting from the inner sides and engaging said grooves, whereby said seat is vertically adjusted, and the movable stops E, fitted between the front sides of the clevises or brackets and back of the seat, whereby said clevises or brackets and seat are retained in position after adjustment, substantially as described.

the front ends of the clevises or brackets for holding their pins in the grooves and looking the seat, substantially as herein described.

3. In a school-desk, and in combination with its sides and the seat, the means for connecting the seat and adapting it to be vertically adjusted, consisting of the clevises or brackets hinged to the seat and embracing and movable on the sides, the longitudinal and cross grooves in the sides,,and the studsor pins in the clevises or brackets fit:

ting the grooves, the grooved stops fitting pins in the forward ends of the clevises or brackets, and acting as locks therefor and for the hinged seat, and the independent movable strip by which the stops are carried, said strip bearing against the forward edge of the side of the desk and against said bracket, to hold the latter in its forward position, substantially as herein described.

4. In a school-desk, its legs having a vertical series of notches on each edge, in combination with the vertically-adjustable footrest, having end arms provided with pivotpins K, and adapted to fit in the notches of diiferent series, whereby the foot-rest may be changed in position and turned into or out of use, and the locking-pins K on each side of the pivot-pins and adapted to fit in the notches of different series on each edge of the legs, and to hold the foot-rest in position, substantially as herein described.

5. In a school-desk, the arm-rest hinged to the front edge of the desk-top, in combination with the sliding piece 0, mounted under the desk-top and adapted to support the armrest when turned to position, and the short arm 0, pivoted on the front of the sliding piece, for supporting the arm-rest when turned back under the desk-top, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES E. TOWLE. Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, H. 0. LEE. 

